She's Back!

Well, after surviving the most difficult 6 days we have ever had with Mikayla, she woke up like her old self!! I am so pleased that she is feeling better. Her improved mood helped coax me into adventure and we took the whole family swimming today......well, almost the whole family. I left the boys in their stroller on the side of the pool. (keep in mind we live in a small town and there was no more than 10 people in the entire pool) Jordan woke up and was fussing so he got to go for his first swim! Alex slept the whole time so he missed out but hopefully next time he'll be able to participate too.

Happy Birthday Auntie Misty

We can't wait to see you in 3 more sleeps!

2 months

I've been asked, by many, if I am able to tell the boys apart. I would say that 95% of the time this is easy. I am with the boys all day and so I always know who I have dressed in which outfit or which baby I have left in the swing vs. the bed. When they are together, they have fairly distinctive characteristics. Alex is still a bit smaller and his coloring is still a little more pale. He has a slightly more oval shaped head and Jordan's head is more rounded. Alex also tends to use his eye brows to alter his expression, like the picture above.

With each of my children, they would have so many looks and expressions that the same child could look different from itself. This is the same with the boys. Sometimes they look identical (which makes sense) and other times they look quite different.

When we are out, people will often ask me who I am holding and I always have to look. I think it is because I don't always pay attention to who I have. A baby cries, I pick it up and I really doesn't process who it is. I am trying to pay more attention to this. There are many family members who can tell the babies apart from their cries and I can't always do this. I think again, because in so many ways, it does not matter who is crying. I need to help them regardless of who they are.

I almost always dress the boys differently. It takes planning to find two similar outfits that are clean and because they change outfits so many times in a day, they wouldn't be in the same outfit for long. I have heard of twin parents that enjoyed dressing their children the same so much that they would change both babies, if one spit up. I can't even imagine!! I do have fun dressing them the same and it is fun to see if people can tell them apart. Lately, to help people out, I have started to use their blankets as labels.

Both boys have been sleeping well. Between the two of them I am typically up around 4-6 times a night. Sometimes more, sometimes less. The positive thing is that they only wake up to eat and generally fall back to sleep quickly. When this doesn't occur, I usually take that child out to the living room where I can rock them in their car seat and I can snooze on the couch. There were a couple of weeks where the boys were fussy/crying from around 5 until 10pm. Sean and I would sit on the couch and pass the boys back and forth. I would nurse, he would rock and then we would trade. I think this may have been somewhat due to the heat because since the weather has cooled, they seem much more content and are usually down for the night around 9ish.

{Jordan}

The boys sleep often during the day but if they are awake, I am usually holding them or they are in their bouncy seats. They are each on their own schedule and I just care for them as each needs. There is often one wide awake and the other fast asleep. I admit that they haven't had a lot of official tummy time because it is difficult to find a safe place for them to play. I plan to make a point of this though now that they enjoy their play mat. I should mention that they do get plenty of tummy time laying on our chests though. They nurse frequently during the day without much rhyme or reason to their routine.

{Alex}

In the last week the boys have had the sniffles so they have been getting plenty of time in the Ergo and have often been sleeping in the car seats. We almost always get out of the house each day. It can be physically exhausting dragging the stroller out and lifting car seats in and out of the van, but it is mentally refreshing to feel the freedom and change of scenery. Mikayla usually sits in the Ergo on my back as she has become a "bolter" and tries to run away at any chance she is given.

The boys are truly special. They are such a delight and joy and I still can't believe that they are here. Twins!! What a double delight!

This is the day that never ends,

It just goes on and on my friend...........

Happy 20 months Mikayla

I hope that you start to feel better soon. In the last few days your personality has done a 180. You are struggling with the sniffles and teething (the eye teeth) and it has been pretty rough for you. You will not let mommy put you down and you insist on being carried in the Ergo all. day. long. When I am not holding you, you are crying, "lap" or "snuggle". You have not napped in 3 days and are taking 2 hours to go down at night. You are also awake several times a night. I pray that you are feeling better soon so we can see your cheerful, energetic, vibrant self again!!

Jordan} 13lbs 15 oz 24 inches{Alex} 13 lbs 9 oz 23 inches

Please excuse their wet shirts.......I was in the process of changing them when I took the picture.

A good place to be

I survived another "late shift". Sean is working and 4 out of 5 children are asleep. When Sean works late, it is nice to have the morning with him, but the evening hours can be long and draining. Trying to feed, bathe and tuck in 5 children is a busy task. Tonight my Mom and our friend stopped in to hold babies while I tucked Mikayla in. She is teething and fighting something so feeling generally miserable. She didn't nap today and needed some extra snuggle time. I was able to rock her to sleep and enjoy that special time with her. Later, as my company head for the door, Alex was soundly sleeping and Jordan was awake and content. This all changed as their car backed up the driveway. Suddenly both boys were crying and Aiden and Caileigh still needed to be tucked in. I am pretty sure that the children sense my vulnerability and pounce on it. Aiden and Caileigh are trying to earn coins for the children in Haiti. I "may" have bribed them to stay in their bed and I would put some money in their jars in the morning. Long story short, it is now nearing 10 and everyone is asleep except for Jordan who is also fighting the sniffles, but he is sitting here beside me in his car seat watching me intently, or maybe he is just staring at the wall behind me. Hard to tell. I am about to enjoy a bowl of ice cream, coffee is prepped for the morning and my world is feeling like a pretty happy place.

I am exhausted, yet energized. I am brain dead, yet inspired. I am overwhelmed, yet at peace. I am one thankful, happy Mom.

Hanging with Miky

Bup(ee), Bup(ee), and Away

Happy 7th Anniversary Sean!! I love you More!

{Alex}

{Jordan}

Try watching both videos at the same time............

It has been a bit of a whirlwind week but we are still here and all is well. My Mom made it home from hospital and is adjusting to the changes of her health. She is exhausted, yet upbeat and we pray that she continues to recover. Sean was out of town and Nanee and Bupee came into town. Older two kids got to go camping again and finally got to enjoy fireworks which they have been anticipating since last year! A busy week planned with Vacation Bible School for the older two starting Monday. The theme is under water expedition. Should be fun!!

Our week at a glance......

Who says pink is for girls? {Alex}

Sleeping Jordie

Mikayla after thoroughly enjoying her pancakes with syrup.

Bathing Alex

Bathing Jordan

First playdate on the play mat.

Baby Miky

Fun outside

Daddy and Alex

Caileigh sound asleep with a PlayMobil angel in her mouth.

Giggly Caileigh

And bad Mommy.....no pictures of Aiden. Will have to do better this week.

A conversation with Caileigh

Caileigh: " When people get married, then they have babies, right Mommy?"

Me: "That's right."

C: " I want to get married and have babies."

M: "Someday you will grow up and you can marry someone just like Daddy."

C: "I don't want to marry someone like Daddy."

M: "Why not?"

C: "Well, Daddy is already married and has babies and I want a man that isn't married and doesn't have babies already."

M: "Oh yes, that is a very good point."

C: "I don't want a man that lives with his Mommy either. Where do I find a man that isn't married with babies and doesnt live with his Mommy?"

M: "I'm sure you'll find him when the time is right."

C: "I'm going to get married at the hospital and that way I can get my babies right after."

M: "Uh......"

C: "I love you Mommy and I am never going to leave you. I am going to live with you forever, until I'm 10, and then I will get married and leave you."

I sure love this sweet girl!!

Prayers for Grandma

Short story: My Mom was in Vancouver last week and experiencing an array of symptoms that led her to go to the hospital. She suffered a mild heart attack and had to have 3 stents put in to clear some blockages. We are waiting for her to be well enough to return home and are praying that this will happen soon. We are missing her!!!

A visit from friends.......

Our good friends Ashley and Jeremy were able to come up from Victoria for a visit this weekend. They stayed in our motorhome down at Willingdon Beach and we were able to set the kids free to play and enjoy each others company. Ashley's two kids Maddison (4) and Brody (2) had sure changed since we saw them last summer. What a great (exhausting) time!

He smiles

Thank you Nanee and Bupee for visiting and helping out. Also, thank you for helping me capture this picture of Jordan!

The boys love to spend time on their new tag blankets......Thank you Auntie Misty!

6 weeks

The boys are 6 weeks!

Jordan is weighing in at 12 lbs 1 oz and Alex is 11 lbs 4 oz. The boys eat well and often.

The other night, after a bath and a massage, both boys slept for 6 hours straight!! It was a little tricky when they both woke up starving but it was amazing to get a stretch of sleep. The next night they were up frequently and I only managed 3 hours of sleep so it is hit or miss.

During the day, the boys sleep in a variety of settings. I have discovered that they sleep well in their car seats, regardless if we are driving anywhere so this is where they usually spend their morning nap. I can take them outside and rock them in the seats while the older 3 play or I can put them on my bed under the fan. This, and the fact that they have both accepted soothers, has created a calmer morning for which I am very thankful!!

After that first nap they sometimes sleep in my bed, the bassinet or the playpen. They sometimes don't mind the swing but it isn't something that they absolutely adore yet.

At night, both boys are together in the playpen. This seems to work well and they don't seem to wake each other up, even if the other is crying in their ear.

Asleep alone.

{Alex}

{Jordan}

Asleep together

The boys are both smiling however you have to work much harder to get one from Jordan. I have yet to capture him in picture. Jordan stares very intently at you and seems to be studying and taking in everything around him. Alex always seems on the verge of a smile and will burst into smile easily.

Alex with a ready smile.

Crinkle eye smile

Both boys like to spend time in their rocking chairs, watching the action around them.

Sleepy Jordan

Sleepier

Asleep